The last 18 months have been extraordinary for Robert Pattinson. On one front, he’s had the bestselling album of all time, his debut solo album, Water, hit number one on the Billboard Top Albums chart and stayed in the top ten for over ten weeks, selling over 500,000 copies globally, and spawned two hit singles, “Sober” and “Walking on Sunshine”. On another front, he’s had numerous one-night stands, including one with a Hollywood actress which he documented candidly for Elle UK, and was the subject of a spread in Vogue with a foreword by former First Lady of the United States, Rosalynn Carter.
But now that the world is standing still while it watches him take a deep breath and collect himself, he’s found himself in a bit of a pickle.
Pattinson has enjoyed a very public and glamorous life as the on-off boyfriend and occasional husband of Twilight star Kristen Stewart. Their on-again, off-again relationship, complete with tabloid speculation about their blossoming romance, was one of the defining narratives of the 2010s. It was even made into a feature film, Forks Over Knives, in which Stewart’s character learns to cook and enjoys a sexual awakening after being spurred on by her new-found feminist zeal. Now that they’re officially a couple, will they find the long-term stability that had hitherto eluded them? Or will their off-the-cuff and sometimes erratic behaviour define them as the ultimate modern-day Bonnie and Clyde?
The answer might lie in Pattinson’s sexuality. Yes, the same sexuality that made him a global superstar and earned him the nickname, “The Vampire of Venice,” due to his predilection for one-night stands, has now put him in the position of having to choose between his career and his personal life. As he’s made clear in interviews, he’s extremely proud of his sexuality and feels that it’s allowed him to become more mature and tolerant as an individual and a human being. In fact, he points out that if he had grown up in the 1960s, he would’ve been labelled a homo and it would’ve been much more difficult for him to forge a career in showbusiness.
But it’s also presented him with a conundrum. While he’s at the height of his fame and power as an artist, he lacks the bank balance that comes with being a mega-star. As a result, he’s finding it increasingly hard to make the lifestyle changes that he wants to make in his personal life. Whether it’s buying a home with Stewart or taking a long break from showbiz to focus on his art, he’s unable to do so without outside investment. The problem is, he wants to be with Stewart forever and doesn’t want to risk losing his career by getting too tied down. Despite his insistence that they are committed to each other and that they’ll settle down together eventually, their history of breaking up and getting back together means that they’re not necessarily in a committed, long-term relationship, as the media would have us believe.
Pattinson has therefore had to navigate the minefield of media scrutiny that comes with being a high-profile gay celebrity in today’s world. He’s had to carefully consider how he’ll deal with the inevitable speculation about his private life, as well as the occasional vitriol that comes from trolls on the internet who don’t approve of his orientation. Most recently, he’s found himself the focus of renewed media speculation about his sexuality following Kristen Stewart’s breakup from actor James Franco, with pundits insisting that Franco is somehow responsible for Stewart’s descent into sadomasochism. While Stewart has publicly shamed these individuals, Pattinson has remained silent. This is a familiar role for him – he typically doesn’t dignify internet trolls with a response, knowing that they’re just jealous of his success.
Pattinson is far from the only celebrity to find himself in this position. It’s a problem that celebrities of all genders, orientations, and backgrounds – even those who are not public figures – have to consider these days. With the mainstream media so preoccupied by sensationalism and conflict, it’s often easy for celebrities to be seen as more focused on their careers than on developing a personal life. But, as Pattinson has discovered, this is far from the case – his personal life is exactly what’s holding him back from his professional potential.
Why Is Having A Personal Life Considered A Career Limitation?
Most celebrities don’t wake up one day and decide, ‘You know what, it’s time for me to settle down and have a family.’ They’re usually born into it, thanks to the tireless work of public relations teams and image consultants. It’s a lifestyle choice that’s often dictated by finances. The more public your celebrity, the more people will scrutinise your decisions about personal life – including your decision to not have a family – and the more pressure you’ll face to conform to the traditional family values of heterosexuality, white skin, and (in the case of men) blue eyes.
What makes Pattinson different is that he did decide to pursue a personal life, only to have it repeatedly thwarted by the industry that he chose to serve. Like many high-profile gay men, he’s never been comfortable publicly identifying as gay – which is why it took him so long to come out, following his split with Katie Holmes in 2012 – and, as a result, has never really considered his personal life to be a sacrifice on the altar of his career. In fact, he cites his busy schedule as the main reason that he doesn’t have more permanent relationships. So how can he possibly afford a personal life when he’s so determined to remain at the top of his game?
Well, for one thing, he doesn’t need to. He’s more than capable of supporting himself through his art, which he invests enormous amounts of his own time and effort into – resulting in a rare feat for a self-made man in today’s celebrity-obsessed society. While he did have to scrimp and save to pay for his first solo album, Water, he’s since been able to build up a large portfolio that includes high-end brands like J.M. WESTON and Burberry, as well as his own luxury fashion line, ROBERT PATTONSON, which he launched in 2016.
Pattinson is also the creator, star, and producer of the highly successful web series, Derek, which has been viewed by over 15 million people around the world. Like many successful online series, it leverages the popularity of celebrity and often centres on a celebrity’s private life. The first season is already available to stream on Netflix and will be followed by a second season, which is set to air this summer. In addition to being a creative professional, he also acts as Chief Creative Officer for Pattinson Creative, his own in-house agency, which works with some of the world’s biggest brands, helping them to bring their stories to life in creative ways.
Despite his considerable achievements, it’s clear that Pattinson isn’t resting on his laurels. He wants to continue making a difference in the world and, as a result, is working on a global education program, which he hopes to see launched in the next five years. He’s also considering writing a book about his experiences as a celebrity – a task he says that he finds both cathartic and empowering. Most importantly, he wants to show other celebrities that having a personal life doesn’t have to be limited by finances or responsibility.
Why Do People Think That Franco Is Responsible For Stewart’s ‘Sadomasochism’ Allegations?
If you follow the news, you’ll know that the last few years have been a real powder keg of accusations, with many high-profile men – and some women – being named and shamed for sexual harassment and assault. It’s affected everyone from the biggest names in showbiz to politicians and prominent figures in the arts – including, most famously, film mogul Harvey Weinstein. One of the most vocal victims of this reckoning has been James Franco, who has been publicly shamed for his part in facilitating and witnessing the sexual harassment and abuse of numerous women by some of Hollywood’s most prominent and revered voices.
Amongst these is British actress and author, Anna Kendrick, who has accused Franco of rape. While it’s highly contested as to whether or not the movie star committed any crimes, the fact that so many women have now come forward with their own allegations against him is sure to raise questions about the behaviour of both men and women in the film industry.